HeyMonicaB: A Blooming Resource on Ayurveda

43 responses so far ↓

• 1 nmartinyoga // Jun 10, 2009 at 9:07 am

  hi do you have a kitchari receipe for pitta/kapha dosha?

• 2 Monica // Jun 14, 2009 at 6:14 pm

  Hi! The pitta kapha balance can be achieved with the recipe above because it is tri-doshic. One thing, if it were spring (kapha season), use less ghee on the kitchari when serving. Ghee is great for pitta, but can be too oily for kapha especially in kapha season.

• 3 Shakti // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:27 pm

  Wow, your kitchari’s recipe is so yummy ;-)

  *Is it true that you can eat kitchari for few days to detox body ?

  Tks so much Monica, I visited your site today for the first time….and I love it !!!

  Shakti (pitta)

• 4 Monica // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:56 pm

  Hi Shakti! Yes indeed. Kitchari can totally help detox the mind and body for a couple days. It’s used in panchakarma (full dosha detox) as the mono-diet for several days. It’s also used for rejuvenation after the cleanse.

  If you are ever feeling “off,” a couple days on kitchari and you will feel like a new you. I do it every couple months and I love it.

  One thing too, the ingredients are purely sattvic so our minds, bodies and souls are completely nourished.

  I’m so happy you like the site – come back often!

• 5 Shakti // Aug 13, 2009 at 9:48 am

  I thank you Monica for your answer.
  I’ll try this mono-diet for a few days for sure.
  Kitchari is like confort food :-)

  I’ll come back often, you can be sure of it !
  Namaste

• 6 Amy // Jul 27, 2010 at 5:56 pm

  Loved your recipe–made it tonight for dinner. First Kitchari recipe that tasted right.

• 7 Monica // Jul 27, 2010 at 9:42 pm

  Fantastic!! I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks for letting me know. Are you having it for lunch tomorrow too? ;)

• 8 Meika // Sep 29, 2010 at 6:20 pm

  Hi Monica,

  My friend cooked Kitchari for me and I loved it – how can something yummy be good for you too?! I’m new to this but I did the test and I am Vatta. Would love it if you could send me a recipe for Vatta bodies please?

  Can’t wait to try this!

  Meika

• 9 Dr. Natura Colonix Cleanse Finale – Feelgood Style // Nov 5, 2010 at 9:01 am

  [...] but I am reluctant to take that on during the cold and windy season.  And there is always Kitchari, an Ayurvedic means of doing some light [...]

• 10 vita // Dec 12, 2010 at 10:22 pm

  Hi Monica, Im in Australia and we are in summertime. Im a vata-pitta. I usually make kichadi with giunger and cumin but im gettinga bit bored with that…any suggestions?
  cheerio! vita

• 11 Monica // Dec 13, 2010 at 9:55 am

  Hi Vita! You can add all kinds of things to kitcharI! You can check out my recipes (and modifications per dosha/season) http://heymonicab.com/2009/02/kitchari-recipe/ or search online. Coconut and cilantro would be yummy in kitchari in the summer time! Let me know what you find and if you get less bored ;) xo

• 12 Jill // Jan 4, 2011 at 3:53 pm

  Hey Monica – it’s the Jill from Italy…I will get in touch with you soon about dates for the consult (I think you are 9 hours ahead of me). Anyway, aside from that, can the mung dal/lentils be replaced with something else. I don’t eat any type of beans and hope (w/ fingers crossed) that there is a tridoshic replacement for the beans! BTW, I am totally pitta physically and sometimes mentally (Grrr), but I have a strong, strong (did I mention strong?!) vata constitution mentally (i.e., mind all over the place, stress, worry, etc.). Any suggestions for the kitchari re: my doshas would also be helpful. Thanks a lot!

• 13 Monica // Jan 5, 2011 at 10:07 pm

  Hi Pitta Italy Jill! :)
  Well, may I ask why you don’t like the mung beans (Yellow split ones! Not the green. Green ones can be gassy)? Do they make you feel off in any way? Reason being the mung dahl is an important part of an Ayurvedic diet because they are not only a whole food, but a sattvic (purity of mind) food. So, I’m curious to know your request for substitute? You have pitta “grr” and vata scatter. The pitta going grrr could also be a result of your emotions (rollercoaster at all?) being pushed around by excess vata. So the problem might be vata first…and if we get that under control pitta will be less “grrr” Lemme know your thoughts about the little yellow mung dahl. xo

• 14 Deborah // Jan 9, 2011 at 1:16 pm

  Yes, please. Recipes specifically for vatas who hate to cook would wonderful!

• 15 Jennifer // Jan 15, 2011 at 4:05 pm

  Having a hard time finding the split yellow lentils…. I have found Mung beans, red, orange and green lentils, not yellow!
  I will continue to look but is there a decent substitution for the time being?

• 16 Monica // Jan 15, 2011 at 6:08 pm

  Hmmmmmmmmm…did you have an Indian grocery or Whole Foods near you? Those places should have it, or a specialty grocery. Also did you look online at all (i never have, just curious)? I know that sounds weird, but it is important to get the right lentils. Again, they are called mung beans or mung dal or mung dahl or moong dal…it can be confusing! And they are yellow and split. There are also green ones but those are the whole mung beans before they are shelled and split. Keep looking!! Lemme know what you find. Maybe try calling some places before you head out and see what they have. Keep me posted!!!

• 17 Carolina Nava // Jan 17, 2011 at 7:00 am

  Hi Monica!!!!!
  I’m starting my 5th liver detox today……I’ll be eating only kitchari for the next 7 days. I’m trying the recipe for the first time today. I live in Mexico, but went to Houston last week and found mung daal at an Indian grocery store. Should I keep it in the fridge? I bought 2 pounds of mun daal and am afraid it might spoil. Nice website!!!!!!! I’m completely Kapha and suffering some sypmtoms due to hypothyroidism. Ayurveda has helped me with my allergies and rashes, but still hasn’t touched my overweight, I know it will be soon noticed on my body, so I keep my Ayurvedic life goin’ on!!!!! HUGS AND BLESSINGS!!!!!!

• 18 Monica // Jan 17, 2011 at 10:33 am

  Yay! Enjoy your cleanse! You don’t need to keep mung dal in the fridge – it won’t spoil. YES! Keep your Ayurvedic life goin on girl!! Regular yoga will help too! :) BIG HUGS and blessings back at cha!!!

• 19 Carolina Nava // Jan 17, 2011 at 10:51 am

  Yoga is being part of this too!!!! I’ve felt great since I started with ayurveda in my life…..The days I spent in Houston (6 days) I really missed my meals(they had no spices!!!!!) and the chance of having some privacy to meditate and practice my yoga(we stayed at a relative’s house) They thought I was strange when I took my own salad and only ate a very small piece of chicken breast at the BBQ thay made for us…..now I’m back on the wagon!!!!!!! I really enjoy eating without few or any white meat, I loooove ayurvedic food!!!!!!

• 20 Holly // Feb 10, 2011 at 3:13 pm

  I finally got around to making the kitchari. The only thing was, I couldn’t find yellow lentils at my local health food store (which actually does have a pretty good selection). I bought yellow split peas instead, and they work fine, but I’m really wondering what yellow lentils ARE?

  And, Is there a better substitute than yellow lentils?

  Thanks for the yummy recipe!

• 21 Monica // Feb 12, 2011 at 1:01 pm

  Hi Holly!! ohhhh have I got a post for you coming up. Watch for it later today. I’m posting what mung dahl looks like and explaining why we can’t really substitute for them…stay tuned and check back! xoxo

• 22 Catharine // Feb 14, 2011 at 6:01 am

  I really want to make some Kitchari but I live in the UK and we don’t use cups for measuring in recipes. I am going to see if I can get a set here though. Could you tell me rougly how many people this will recipe will serve? Thanks
  Love the website, fab graphics!

• 23 Monica // Feb 14, 2011 at 7:11 pm

  Hi Catharine! I would say, if you are using it as a main meal, you could get about 3 meals out of it. If you are using it as a side dish with other food, it serves about 4-5. Does this help?! Thanks for the kudos on the graphics!! xo

• 24 Shuba // Feb 20, 2011 at 1:45 pm

  great recipe..I made it for our SatSang..group of Amma Devotees…everyone loved it..I had never made Kitchari and these guys were all very familliar with Kitchari and loved it..Thanks..I added some Parsnisps from the fridge and played with the spices..thanks..

• 25 Monica // Feb 20, 2011 at 6:16 pm

  Shuba! What fun. I’m glad your Amma group loved the kitchari and I love that you were a bit creative with it too! :) :) Thanks for sharing your feedback!

• 26 Delphine // Mar 15, 2011 at 9:37 am

  Hi Monica! Quick question: is it necessary to use basmati rice? I have a giant bag of short grain brown rice I’d like to use. Thanks!

• 27 Monica // Mar 15, 2011 at 9:48 am

  Hi Delphine!
  Basmati is easiest to digest and because kaphas don’t have strong digestive fire, that’s the best. However if you need to finish up your brown rice (very tough to digest), be sure to clean it well and soak it overnight before using. That will help!! Thanks for the question!

• 28 beci // Mar 30, 2011 at 11:07 am

  Hi Monica

  Im going to be trying out advised by my auyvedic docter to do the Kitchari for a month.

  Im Pitta . can i use coconut milk in the dishes? or is this too nourishing

  thanks

• 29 Monica // Apr 3, 2011 at 3:24 pm

  Hi Beci! No, don’t use coconut milk, but you can use unsweetened coconut flakes to the dish if you like! Coconut milk is a bit too thick to use instead of water for kitchari. Go for it on the coconut flakes though! xo.

• 30 beci // Apr 9, 2011 at 12:04 pm

  thanks Monica, i have another question, my friend is doing this too and she asked me was I getting up to pee more in the night, she is getting up 3 x a night. Would you know why this might be happening?

• 31 Monica // Apr 11, 2011 at 9:13 pm

  Beci, that’s weird!! Has she ever had that happened before? Possibly cumin but unless she put a ton of cumin in there, it shouldn’t be that much of a diuretic! I think that’s a bit strange. Unless she’s drinking more water than she had previously?? :/

• 32 Tina // May 9, 2011 at 1:19 am

  Hi Monica
  I did the test and came out pitta (13), Kapha (7) and vatta (5).

  I am interested in doing the kitchari cleanse. I have found some recipes online that only use rice/dahl/corriander or parsley – they don’t include any other ingredients or spices and I am wondering if it makes a difference to add all the spices? Will I still get an effective cleanse if I use your recipe and add vegetables too?

  Also the recipe doesn’t say how much it makes – how many servings will it make? I am only planning to eat this for 5 days so how many meals of kitchari should I eat per day and how big are the servings? For a cleanse should I only eat once a day? if so should it be breakfast, lunch or dinner?

  I live in South Africa and I am not sure we have yellow dahl here so (I know there is no real substitute) what can I use instead ?

  Thanks so much
  Tina

• 33 Monica // May 15, 2011 at 10:00 pm

  Hi Tina! Here’s the thing about kitchari. It’s a traditional Indian staple similar to like, American casserole. It’s basically a hodgepodge of whatever is in the fridge or cupboard…and because they are Indian people, they have plenty of Indian spices on hand ;) BUT! Yes, for an Ayurvedic cleanse, the traditional spices are very important for proper digestion of ama (toxins) and to cleanse/nourish all the tissues. The recipe will make about 4-6 servings. Probably enough for about a day and 1/2, so you’ll need to make it a few times before the cleanse ends. Eat it as 3 square meals (if you are very hungry, you can have fruit – no bananas – as a snack). You may also have herbal (ginger, mint, chamomile, etc.,) teas and plenty of water throughout the day. You can eat as much as you need until you feel full and satisfied – your body will tell you. :)

  I am working on finding a sub for mung dahl – you are not the first person to ask me. When I find out, I’ll post it on my site.
  All the best and Namaste,
  Monica

• 34 Maria // Jul 27, 2011 at 4:56 am

  i’m currently doing a water fast for (hopefully) 14 days. then i’m doing a fruit and veggy refeeding for a week. can i do the kitchari for three days after that? and does it cook well in a slow cooker?

• 35 Monica // Jul 31, 2011 at 11:43 am

  Hi Maria!
  Kitchari would be a perfect food to end your cleanse with and a slow cooker is awesome!! Go for it!

• 36 Kat // Sep 21, 2011 at 12:13 pm

  Is it safe to do this diet/detox while breastfeeding??

• 37 Monica // Sep 27, 2011 at 2:46 pm

  Yes Kat! It’s absolutely nourishing for mom and baby!!

• 38 Dee // Sep 30, 2011 at 12:03 pm

  I made the Kitchari with the green mung beans… I found them at the health food store and thought that was what mung beans were. You keep talking about yellow split mung beans… did I make a mistake? can I still eat the green?

  Thanks so much for this variation, I love it!

• 39 Monica // Oct 3, 2011 at 12:01 pm

  Hi Dee! I did the same thing when I first made Kitchari. Here’s a link to explain the different lentils/dals: http://heymonicab.com/2011/02/hello-dahl-ey/
  You can still eat the green but they are harder to digest than the yellow split ones. Basically the yellow split ones are just the green ones that have been peeled and split in half. The yellow are easier to digest however if you didn’t notice any extra gas or bloaties after eating your kitchari, you can probably digest them just fine. Does this help!?! XOXO!

• 40 Peter // Nov 24, 2011 at 7:40 pm

  Hi. I’ve just discovered Kitchari and love it! The recipe I was given is really like yours but I’ll be adding to mine from yours! Can I ask two questions?

  (1) I’m single so when I make it using about the quantities in your recipe it makes enough for three meals. Is it ok to keep in the fridge and re-heat, and if so how to re-heat? – the microwave is the easiest….. but maybe not ayurvedically acceptable?

  And (2) Is it ok to make like that every week, and therefore eat kitchari 3 days in a row just about every week – or is that “too much of a good thing”?

  Thanks….. Peter.

• 41 Monica // Nov 29, 2011 at 10:56 am

  Hey Peter!
  Glad you are loving the kitchari! 1) Ideally the ancient texts of Ayurveda wants us to make each meal fresh. Fast forward 5,000 years later and…that’s not really realistic with our lifestyles. So, do the best you can! It’s OK to reheat kitchari and keep it in the fridge, making it every other day or so. I have heated my kitchari in the micro when I was new to Ayurveda, but it’s best to reheat in a little pan on the stove (you might want to add a little water). HOWEVER, it’s better to heat it in the micro and enjoy your kitchari, than not eat kitchari because it’s too inconvenient. Does that makes sense? I like to take the black and white out of Ayurveda and enjoy the gray steps in between. Do the best you can! :)
  2) YES! You can eat kitchari as much as you want to. Indian folks eat it nearly daily as part of their diet – it’s their comfort food or like, Indian casserole. They use lots of traditional spices and toss in any veggies they have hanging around and make a batch. It’s a staple! In this case, kitchari can never be “too much of a good thing.” HAVE AT! :)

  Thanks for your questions, Peter! I hope this helps.

• 42 Peter // Dec 1, 2011 at 5:36 am

  That’s great Monica, thanks for taking the time to reply – I love the attitude that it’s better to take the convenient route rather than miss out altogether. Sort of aligns with my principles. But I will try to mostly re-heat on the stove…
  I look forward to many delicous meals. I’m also looking forward to exploring your website further to continue a brief intro to Ayerveda that I recently had as part of yoga teacher training.
  Thank you again…. Peter
  (I don’t expect you to post this message, but I didn’t want to not appear grateful and say thanks)

• 43 let’s talk trash | barefootgirl.. taking out the trash // Jan 18, 2012 at 8:45 am

  [...] dinner I had a bowl of kitcheri. I made a big batch on Sunday. It was not as good as the recipe  that a fellow yogi brought to [...]

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